Most vessels in south ply without trained crew

Defying rules, a large number of passenger launches ply the turbulent river routes in the southern districts without license-holding trained crew in the current season of storms, risking passengers' life.
At least 1000 launches ply the 28 routes in Barisal, Bhola, Patuakhali, Jhalakati, Barguna and Pirojpur districts every day and over 50 per cent of them have no licence-holding crew and trained manpower, sources said.
According to marine laws, two types of motorised water transports up to 65 feet in length and above--are allowed to carry passengers in river routes.
As per law, vessels up to 65 feet in length, registered as Motorized Launch (ML), must have at least nine trained crew, fitness certificate and route permit. Vessels above 65 feet in length, registered as Motorized Vessel (MV), should have 12 trained crew.
The manpower includes a Master, a Driver, skilled Sukanis and Lascars, all trained and certified Ęby BIWTA.
But few of the crew and other staff operating the vessels have such certificates.

During an investigation at Barisal IWTA launch terminal on Saturday, this correspondent found at least 30 launches without certified Master and Driver and another 25 without either a trained Master or a Driver.
Manik Bepari, once a Master with licence from BIWTA, now runs a company styled Manik Navigation having four small launches. His son-in-law Yunus Bepari owns another company named Yunus Navigation with two launches. But none of the launches have any trained crew certified by BIWTA.
When asked how they face mobile court, Makin said, "We manage it".
Three of the six launches of Sumana Water Transport and Navin Water Navigation owned by Khorshed Mia, an influential leader of Barisal Launch Owners Association, are operating without trained drivers.

So also, MV Upadwip, MV Upabon and ML Akram owned by Sreepur Launch Company have no trained driver, according to the Launch Workers' Association.
But when asked, Salam Kazi, one of the owners of the company, denied the allegation.
MV Parvin and MV Sagor King ply the turbulent Barisal-Bhola route but none have any trained Master and Driver.
ML Afsar, ML Hayat and ML Arafat also have no trained Driver. The two vessels have registered Masters only on records, but they never ply the vessels. Those are operated by untrained crew.

Talking to this correspondent, Golam Mawla, central president of the Launch Workers Association admitted that in last four years, two of the four major disasters claiming several hundred lives took place as the vessels were operated by untrained crew.
The government repeatedly asked launch owners to abide by marine laws and employ skilled masters and drivers and ordered BIWTA inspectors to take action against law-breakers.
But the launch owners and inspectors have an unholy alliance, Golam Mawla claimed.

A Master having BIWTA training certificate, who is a member of the association, seeking anonymity said he is jobless for seven months as he demanded Tk 3000 salary as per labor law.
Bazlu Mia, another member of the association, said vessel owners prefer untrained crew as they can be paid less. This is done in connivance with BIWTA inspectors, he alleged.
But Abdul Malek, Marine Inspector at Barisal denied the allegation of underhand deal and negligence in duty by BIWTA mean.
"Launches capsize mainly due to storm, not for lack of skilled manpower", he said.

Talking to this correspondent, Golam Mawla, central president of the Launch Workers Association admitted that in last four years, two of the four major disasters claiming several hundred lives took place as the vessels were operated by untrained crew.
The government repeatedly asked launch owners to abide by marine laws and employ skilled masters and drivers and ordered BIWTA inspectors to take action against law-breakers.
But the launch owners and inspectors have an unholy alliance, Golam Mawla claimed.
A Master having BIWTA training certificate, who is a member of the association, seeking anonymity said he is jobless for seven months as he demanded Tk 3000 salary as per labor law.

Bazlu Mia, another member of the association, said vessel owners prefer untrained crew as they can be paid less. This is done in connivance with BIWTA inspectors, he alleged.
But Abdul Malek, Marine Inspector at Barisal denied the allegation of underhand deal and negligence in duty by BIWTA mean.
"Launches capsize mainly due to storm, not for lack of skilled manpower", he said (Daily Star, March 28, 2005).